Ephraim smith



(N0 Mddel.)

E. SMITH.

MOLD FOE CASTING SHOVEL BLANK-s. Y No. 251,960. Patented Jan. 8,1882.

' 1 5; W My. 5. F17 5.

m whim/2'03 UNITED STATES EPHRAIM SMITH, OF

PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR B INNS & 00., OF SAME PLACE.

PATENT OFFICE.

TO HUssEY,

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 251,960, dated January 3, 1882.

Application filed December I, 1880. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM SMITH, of Pittsburg, in the county of AlleghenyandState of Pennsylvania, have invented an Improved Mold for Gusting ShoveLBlanks and other similar Castings; and I do herebyideclare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making part of this specifi Figure 1 being a face View of the inner surface of one of the halves or parts-ofthe mold, the two parts being essentially alike; Fig. 2, a top view of the two parts forming the mold put together, and showing the coreused in position; Fig. 3, a vertical cross-section of the same, ina plane indicated by the line 00 m, Fig. 2; Fig. 4, a horizontal cross-section thereof, in

a plane indicated by the line 3/ y, Fig. 1; Fig.

5, a side edge view of the mold; Fig. 6, a view of the core separate; Fig. 7,a view in perspective of one of the shovel-blanks cast in the mold.

Like letters designate corresponding parts in all of the figures.

The special purpose of my invention is to improve the iron molds for casting cast-steel shovel-blanks, and the process of casting the blanks therein, whereby a more perfect cast- 0 ing is produced for making a solid blade free from imperfections, particularly at the lower end, which is especially necessary, and heretofore has beenfound to be difficult to accomplish. The mold and the method are employed 3 5 in connection with a peculiar core. for forming the handle-socket in the blade and separating the two parts from which the handle-straps are formed. This core is made of a composition containing acombustible in gredient which 40 will ignite by the heat of the molten steel, and thereby have the eifect to prevent the blowing out of the liquid metal or the imprisonment of gases therein, which otherwise would produce imperfections in the blanks.

5 In the drawings, A B represent the two parts of the mold, ordinarily made of cast-irom molded,as indicated in the several figures, but this arrangement of the mold is only essential in connection with the combustible core 0, suspended in the upper or strap-forming part of mold. To prevent its float ng in the liquid metal as the mold fills, and consequent rising out of position, a Wedge or -nail,d, may be shoved in, or otherwise lightly inserted, between one of its edges and the adjacent mold at the top when the mold is ready for casting into, as in Fig. 2.

The composition which I usually employ for the co'mbustiblecore isas follows: sand, eleven by measure; glue, when dry, one-Fourth part, by measure. The glue is first dissolved in about three times its weight of water. The sand and pitch mixed are then wetup; with the glue-water, in a cold state, to prevent the softening and runningof the pitch, and thenmolded intooores'. They are thendried in-a suitable oven or chamber at a very low heat, and when thoroughly dry are ready for use.

Instead of pitch, rosin may be employed for the combustible ingredient of the cores, but it does notwork quite so satisfactorily as the pitch. Other materials equivalent in effect may be used, since I do not intend to confine myself to those above named, though I believe them to be preferable for the purpose to any other known to me, the result designed to be at tained being to have a combustible material in the core which willonly ignite and gasify when subjected to the intense heat of the molten metal, and this at just the proper time and in the proper quantity to supply the required amount of flame for the purposeneither too be produced. In order to further facilitate the escape of the smoke and gaseous products from the sides of the core, I form lateral openings ffin the adjacent surfaces of the mold-parts A B, preferably a little thicker than, the core itself, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5, and extending outward from the edges of the core. These furnish free outlet to the smoke and other products at all times, unimpeded by the inpouring metal, which partially interferes with the dimpward escape of the said products.

When the narrow part of the cast blank which produces the shovel-straps is cooling in the mold it isliable to be pulled apart by the shrinking of the metal, the upper end solidifying first, and, by adhering to the mold at the top, drawing the inward part upward. I obviate this injurious tendency by making the mold somewhat narrower at the upper end, as at g, Fig. 1, than at the louer end, II, of the narrow part, and gradually widening from the top downward, as indicated by parallel dotted lines to win the same figure. The degree of this upward contraction of the mold is sufficient to prevent any part of the blank from pulling upward far enough to rupture it. This shrinking-andtightening up of the cooled blank in the mold, while, the surplus metal of the ingate spreads somewhat over the top of the mold, would cause-the casting to lock in the mold if not obviated. I prevent the locking by forming inclinations 'i iextending from the upper, outer edges ofthe two mold'parts to the inneradjacentwalls of thesaid parts, as shown in Figs.3and 5. This form notonly prevents the locking of the ingate-head over the ends of the mold parts, but causes the casting to loosen itself in the mold while cooling by its shrinking and drawing downward, and thereby acting as a wedge to slightly separate the parts of the mold, which "are not locked together, but simply stand side by side. The inclination of the upper end of the said parts also -facilitates thepouring of the metal without waste.

By the term combustible core is to be understood a core which has a combustible ingredient sufficient to ignite and produce smoke and gaseous products of combustion while pouring the metal.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A mold for casting shovel-blanks, constructed in two parts, A B, having the wide or blade portion toward the bottom thereof and openings ff in the sides opposite to the narrow or strap portion, and provided with a core, 0, supported in the narrow portion, the

said core being composed of sand and a solid combustible material, in substantially the proportions set forth, all substantially as and for the purpose herein specified. Y

2. The combination of a combustible core such as herein described and a mold, A B,

having its wide blade-forming part toward the bottom thereof, and the said core supported in its narrow strap-forming part, substantially 'as and for the purpose herein specified.

stantially as and for the purpose herein speci- EPHRAIM SMITH.

Witnesses:

THos. ARMOR, FRANK B. NEWTON. 

